Samhain, or “summer’s end,” has several aspects. For the ancient Celts, Samhain marked summer coming to a close and the beginning of winter. It is considered the final harvest (for meat) of the year, the Celtic New Year, a time to honor one’s ancestors, and a night that the veil between the physical and spiritual world is thinnest. It is thought that divination is more powerful at this time, that the faerie folk are more active and that the dearly departed are nearer to us (and thus easier to contact) for this reason. Today, Samhain takes place on October 31st.
Colors
Orange, red, brown, gold, yellow, and black.
Flowers, Herbs and Scents
Acacia, allspice, almond, angelica, apples, basil, bay leaf, benzoin, broom, burdock, calendula, catnip, cedar, chrysanthemum, cinnamon, cloves, comfrey, copal, coriander, cypress, dandelion, dragon’s blood resin, frankincense, garlic, ginger, hazelnut, heather, heliotrope, marigold, mugwort, mullein, myrrh, nettle, oak, passionflower, patchouli, pennyroyal, pine, pumpkin, rosemary, saffron, sage, sandalwood, star anise, sunflower, tarragon, thistle, thyme, tobacco, wild ginseng, wormwood, and yew.
Food and Beverages
Apples and apple dishes, corn, meat dishes, gingerbread, hazelnuts, potatoes, seasonal fruits (quince, pomegranates, cranberries, kumquats), vegetables, pumpkin dishes, roasted pumpkin seeds, nuts, beets, squash, turnips, soul cakes, sweet potatoes, ale, mead, cider, mulled wine, and herbal teas.
Symbols, Associations and Decorations
Acorns, candles, torches, lanterns, apples, autumn flowers, autumn leaves, bats, besoms, black cats, bones, carved pumpkins and turnips, photos of ancestors and/or dearly departed, corn stalks, corn dolls, crows, cauldrons, gourds, jack-o-lanterns, masks, mirrors, oak leaves, pine cones, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, skulls, straw, tombstones, and spiderwebs.
Activities for Samhain
Divination (tarot, scrying, cleromancy, etc), honoring/consulting ancestors, remembering the dearly departed, holding a dumb supper, releasing the old, understanding death and rebirth, past life recall, lighting bonfires, leaving offerings for ancestors and/or faeries, cooking, feasting, pumpkin and gourd carving, lighting candles, and wearing costumes and/or masks.
Crystals and Stones
Black obsidian, black onyx, hematite, carnelian, amber, bloodstone, smoky quartz, and petrified wood.
Animals
Black cats, bats, owls, stags, ravens, crows, spiders, and dogs.
Spells and Rituals
Candle magic, divination, casting protection, shadow work, spirit work, and/or rituals/spells for manifesting transformation are all appropriate at this time.
Samhain General Guide
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